Deepthi Jeevanji has won the bronze medal in the 400m T20 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. The runner finished just 0.66 seconds behind first placed Yuliia Shuliar of Ukraine.

With the bronze medal, India’s overall tally has risen to 16 medals at the Paralympics this year. Last year, she made history by breaking the record for the lowest time taken at the 2023 Asian Para Games by running 400m in 55.07seconds.

Deepthi Jeevanji wins bronze medal at Paris Paralympics 2024

The 21-year-old ran 400m in 55.82 seconds, close to her record at the Asian Para Games last year. Jeevanji comes from the Warangal district in Telengana and her talent was first discovered by her school’s physical education teacher, Biyani Venkateshwarulu.

She eventually made her way to the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Hyderabad after recommendation from legendary badminton player Pullela Gopichand.

And after being mocked and demeaned by the people from her villagers, she can now call herself a Paralympic medalist. The T20 category involves athletes with intellectual disabilities.